The Honda Odyssey continues to appeal to us because, well, it drives like a Honda. It's not the quietest of the bunch, and it doesn't have the best ride. But it has a sort of participatory vigor on the road that all car guys respond to, a direct communication link to the driver's instincts. Its fun-to-drive rating maxes out our minivan expectations.

The Odyssey is also exceptionally good to its passengers, even those banished to the wayback. This is a bigger box than most, but more important, its spaces are arranged exactly where passengers need them to be, resulting in top ratings for comfort in both the second and third rows. The seats back there are exceptionally large. The second-row cushions in this leather-trimmed EX are high, wide, and thronelike. One tester complained of a decorative seam in the cushion that pinched his behind, but he loved the stretch-out room for his feet under the seat ahead. This is a first-class passenger hauler, even in the third row.

For cargo schlepping, the Odyssey has the most plywood space—a four-by-eight sheet has clearance all around when lying flat—and it tied the bulging Nissan for swallowing boxes in our test using beer cases.

The Odyssey shows its age in one regard: Folding the one-piece third-row bench into the floor is a back-straining job, more so than in the others.

When it comes to driving, car guys respond well to this Honda's controls. The dash has big dials right up there where you can see them, and big knobs where you can easily reach them. Default to reflex, and the results come out right every time.

This same as-expected feeling applies to the Odyssey's handling. The steering is direct. The suspension is highly damped, giving tight control of ride motions. The engine and the five-speed automatic are always ready when you need a squirt of acceleration. This is a minivan with moves. It has a sporty, crisp feel about it, in contrast to the Sienna's soothing, always diplomatic approach.

Performance, in most trials, was about equal to the Sienna's, but the Odyssey's modestly larger engine, 3470cc versus 3310cc, is rated 10 horsepower higher. That pays off in the speed ranges common to passing, where the Honda's 30-to-50-mph and 50-to-70-mph acceleration times of 3.6 and 5.1 seconds showed a significant advantage over all the others.

Putting aside the personalities of the top two choices here, they're both really good cars that include far more space and comfort than you'll find in an SUV of a similar price. They use less fuel, too. Are we sounding like the parents who keep saying, "Spinach is so good for you"?

The Best and Others to Consider

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

Editors' Rating

Starting at

$30,930

Quiet, comfortable, flexible, and packed with tons of modern technology, the Honda Odyssey has a formidable family-friendly legacy.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

Editors' Rating

Starting at

$30,745

It’s the Camry of minivans: The Sienna appeals to a wide range of families looking for roomy, comfortable, and high-quality transport—and it succeeds.